Mail-bag



(No Model.) 2 Sheets.-Sheet 1 I J. A. BLACKBURN. I v MAIL BAG. No. 269,560. Patented Dec. 26, 1882.

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J. A. BLACKBURN.

MAIL BAG. No. 269,560; Patent-ed Dec. 26, 1882.

N. mans. Photo-WWW, Washington, 0.0.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. BLACKBURN, OF VAN \VERT, OHIO.

lVlAlL-BAG.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 269,560, dated December 26, 1882.

4 Application filed May 26, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J GEN A. BLACKBURN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Van Vert, in the county of Van W'ert and State of Ohio, have invented certain new andusefullrnprovementsinl\Iail-Bags,ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention has relation to fastenings for mail-bags, pouches, and the like; and the object of the invention is to provide a fastening device that shall be rapidly and expeditiously manipulated, and at the same time simple and cheap in construction, and thooughly safe and effective in use; and to that end the novelty consists in the construction of the same, as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings similar letters of reference indicate like parts of the invention.

Figure 1 is a view of the mouth of an ordinary mail-bag closed and secured with my fastening. Fig. 2 is asimilar view with the fastening unlocked or in position for opening, and Fig. 3 a perspective view of the mail-bag open and in position to receive its contents.

A is a mail pouch or bag, the mouth of which is provided with a flap, B, adapted to fold down over the mouth of said bag when it is closed. This flap B has a series of guides or straps, G, in which slides a flexible strap, D, provided with a series of tongues, E. A metallic keeper, F, is hinged to the strap D and serves to lock the strap in its closed position, and it likewise forms the handle by which the strap is operated.

In the face or front of the keeper F is a recess for holding the tag or label 0, and when the flap B is folded down on the opposite side, G, a series of staples, H, secured thereto project through said flap and through orifices (l in the flexible strap D, so that a. sliding motion of the strap causes the tongues E to simultaneously enter the staples H and pass under the straps (J. The keeper F is folded dow'n into the position shown in Fig. 1, and two of the staples H H pass through the slots h h in the keeper. thus preventing any motion whatever being given to the strap while the keeper is in this position, and as the opening 0 of the tag-recess is closed by the staple H adjoining it, it follows that the one operation not only looks the bolt, but also secures the tag in place and prevents tampering with it or its accidental loss during handling.

To open the bag, itis only necessary to raise the keeper and slide it to the left. This practically is a single motion, and it withdraws all the tongues from the staples. Then by simply raising the flap the bag is open and in the position shown in Fig. 3. By simply closing the flap, sliding the strap, closingthe keeper, which likewise in practice is a single motion, the bag is fastened, and when the lock is applied to the staple El it is impossible to tamper with either the mail-matter or the tag-labeL- It will thus be seen that the. device is rapidly and expetiitiously operated, which adds greatly to facilities for handling mail-matter at the offices or in transit on the postal cars, and atthe same time perfectly preserves its contents.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a mailbag fastening, the flap B, straps C, and flexible strap D, provided with tongues, in combination with staples H and keeper F, substantially as set forth.

' 2. In a mail-bagfastening, the flap B,straps O, and flexible strap D, provided with the tongues E, and slots cl,'and the keeper F, in combination with the staples H, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. BLAOKBURJ.

\Vitnesses E. H. BRADFORD,

H. J. ENNIS. 

